Kaduna shuts 457 ‘illegal’ private schools

The Kaduna State Government yesterday closed 457 “illegal” private schools across the state.

It, however, gave them a month to regularise their registration with the government.

The Commissioner for Education, Mallam Mohammed Usman, told reporters that some of the schools were operating illegally without proper registration while others were operating below approved standard and outside approved curriculum.

The commissioner said some of the affected schools were operating in shops, half plots of land and in parks.

The affected schools included secondary, nursery and primary schools.

Usman said another set of 185 schools would also be closed in the second phase of the exercise.

The commissioner explained that the records of the schools were being examined to ensure that justice is done to all.

He also said 331 illegal schools were closed in Kaduna zone; 81 in Zaria and 43 in Kafanchan.

Usman regretted that some of the affected schools had been operating for about 10 years without attempting to register with the government.

The commissioner said the government would not tolerate illegal schools, adding that it would punish operators of such schools.